Day 08 - Short term goals for this month and why

My short short term goals list:


1. Tighten the finances. This phase in life can be hard financially. Add spouse applying for med school, finances get harder. Add student loans, finances get harder. Add dying car that costs buckets of money to fix, over and over, finances get harder. Pay my tithing, be responsible and smart, not spending frivolously, following a budget, etc., we'll make it through.


2. Finish IT goals at work. Truthfully, most who might read this would be bored to hear the details. I'll be brief by saying, I am adding quite a bit of new hardware and implementing several software solutions. Also I have to train quite a few people on varying levels of understanding. I have lots of work that is easy to get distracted away from and then I can't get everything done. Be like Scottie; Miracle Worker.


3. Be better at home. More patient, more helpful, more sympathetic, etc. I don't think I am in the failing range for any of these but its easy to fall into routine. Routine can often give you the false sense of going nowhere. Realistically, you are always moving in one direction or another or another. I want to be moving forward to become more patient, more helpful, more sympathetic rather than assume that I am a great guy that just does those things great (don't mistake that last phrase, I wasn't claiming I've ever done them great).


Told you that was short. Much longer and I'd forget what my goals were. The first one I'm kinda forced to meet by the fact that I need to be able to pay rent and groceries. The second, I suppose I have to meet because I need to be able to pay rent and groceries. The third, I need to always work on so I can have a wife to pay rent for and bring groceries home to.


Up Next: Day 09 - Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 07 - A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Gabrielle and Britain, the loves of my life.

Well no duh. This one wasn't even a challenging question. This part of the 30 day challenge doesn't really elicit any deep meaningful response that is earthshatteringly revealing. Anyone who knows me a little bit knows that Britain is my number one, Gabrielle is my number two, and that I love them both more than anything. That't it. Short post.

Okay really, I can give a few tidbits about their impacts on my life. Britain has balanced me out to be a much better person. More tolerant, more educated, more willing to seek new perspectives. I appreciate her for that. Gabrielle has taken the love that I feel for my wife and added a richness to my love for Britain as well as earning herself a special place in my affections.

There is a transition you go through when you get married. The love you feel, the experience of being married, and the depth of your love are completely foreign and literally impossible to comprehend before marriage. Try as hard as you can to explain it, un-wedded couples try to pretend they know and understand. Get married and you realize how much richness, joy, and excitement is added. Those same couples almost every time say, "Wow! I had no idea!"

Having a child is a similar. Unique and different from marriage, of course. But this is the best comparison I can present. A change that can't be explained until you make the change. A couple will try to convince you that they know how much you can love the child and how it will change your life. But no. Talk to them at the 1 or 2 year birthday and they'll say the same thing, "Wow! I had no idea!" I am guessing (only being weeks past the 2 year mark) that this only compounds itself and in another 2, 5, 10, etc. years, I'll repeat the same phrase over and over.

To end I'd like to share something that bugs me: "I know what its like to have a kid; I have a [insert pet type]!" Oh brother. "I love my babies [referring to pet] just as much as you love your child." How naive to assume that a human can love a pet as much as a human child. I will fully acknowledge the attachment you can feel to a pet. You can really love them too; they can care for you in return. To say that you have deep commitment and experiences as a loving caretaker because you have a pet is either a sign of know-it-all-ness or an expression of insecurities (often both). No dog will compare to a human child. No hamster will ever give you the pure joy of sweet and loving eyes when they first utter the words, "I love you Daddy." Have a kid and see if you still call your fluffy mammals your babies. To close this point on a lighthearted note (kind of), You can't say you love your pet as much as someone loves their child because you don't let someone you really love run around in a car, un-fastened or in some kennel/cage. Until you get a pet restraint device at or on par with the safety of current child restraint devices, you have no way to claim you care more or even equal.

Okay, I have to end differently. I love Gabrielle. I know that every mother and father that reads this post can join with me and know that the most challenging and trying part of your lives is also your source of greatest joy and fulfillment. Go to your child tell them you love them and remember that first smile, that first da da, or ma ma, that first time that little hand held your finger to take a walk down the street. That's love.

Up Next: Day 08 - Short term goals for this month and why

Day 06 - Favorite super hero and why

Uh-oh. This is the question I've been fearing. How can I commit to just one? I suppose a lengthy analysis is the best option. What defines a superhero? That is a tough question. I have many that I would love to list but will have to be selective. My focus is going to be on many superhero stories that have been made big by Hollywood. If Hollywood made them, typically it means they are already pretty darn good superheroes.

Fantastic Four (Marvel Universe)

First. The Fantastic Four. Pretty good flick. Nice comics. Favorite. No. They are cool and their team dynamics make them worth of making movies out of. It helps that they pick a good looking actresses for the key female part.

X-Men, any variety (Marvel Universe)

While pictured is the good-guys group from X-Men: Last Stand, I would also include the baddies too. X-Men really makes it because what is good and bad? There's the obvious characters, Professor X is good, Magneto is bad. Magneto's cause is good but he goes about it in the wrong way. Professor X is unwilling to bend to do wrong. As you get to more characters, you find out there reasons for being here or there are deep. Character development is some of the deepest in all comic books. Add extraordinary spectacle, and you have something awesome. Favorite, no. Why? One is the massive number of characters. Even if I picked just one, they are missing something to make them my favorite; each one missing a different aspect or lacking any all together.

Ironman/Tony Stark (Marvel Universe)

  Awesome movies. With that said. I don't care deeply about the series outside of the awesome movies of the 2008 and 2010 renditions. So obviously not my favorite superhero. However, Tony Stark AKA Ironman does have a very unique quality. EVERYONE knows that he is Ironman. It is fun to explore what its like with the typical secret identity syndrome removed from the equation. He is extremely narcissistic which makes him handle the fame in a fun way. He also advocates for removing secret identities. Think about how that would affect different super-heroes in their respective cosmos'. Fun to think about.

Spiderman (Marvel Universe)

The Spiderman franchise is excellent. You take a superhero and face him with a beat hard personal life and add in massive crossing of his superhero life, you get a dynamic character. You get to see real emotion. The movies don't quite realize it but Peter Parker/Spiderman is super smart. While he has been given super strength, commonly he will not be more powerful than his enemies but must resort to outsmarting them (often with science). His character is one of the most explored in regard to secret identity conflicts. He also has the worst luck at looking horrible or having to dodge out to save the day at the expense of something really important in his real life.

****SPOILER - SPIDERMAN 2****

You see a glimpse of that in Spiderman 2 when Doc Oc learns Spiderman's identity as Peter Parker and realizes why his professors view Peter as "brilliant but lazy." Not lazy! He's Spiderman! Take quotes like, "With great power comes great responsibility," and add great soundtrack and you have great movies. I love the movies, love the comic books, the old cartoon TV series, but still, not my favorite. We are getting closer though...

Batman (DC Universe)

So, you may notice that I have added my first non-Marvel superhero. Batman is dark. He's the superhero that has unwavering ability to do what needs to be done. The original four movies where very comic bookie in a not so wonderful way. I still liked them. When the series was re-imagined with Batman Begins and Dark Knight (soon to add Dark Knight Rising), I freaked out. This is what Batman is about. A real person, who struggles, but in all truth, has no "super" power. He takes the fall if needed. He is okay being hated.

****SPOILER ALERT (Cartoon version, not live action)****

In a Justice League movie I watched, the villain points out that only Batman would actually follow through with destroying an entire planet in order to prevent the impending evil. Again, for me, too dark to call my favorite. My favorite considers Batman a trusted friend...friend enough for Batman to kill him if he ever lost control...

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JUST A LITTLE BIT FARTHER (Uh-oh, now I seem like a stupid pass this to 100 friends or you'll die email...)

Superman (DC Universe)

C'mon,who didn't see this coming? Superman is my favorite, no contest. He exemplifies perfect and unwavering dedication to what is right. I have seen all Superman related movies and TV shows starting with Christopher Reeves Superman in 1978. I loved watching Lois and Clark. I watched every single episode of Smallville vigilantly from the day in 2001 that I sat next to my Mom and watched the Pilot episode. I daresay I was fanatical. Okay, I admit I am completely fanatical (Ginger may rival me).

Superman/Clark Kent. Who is he really? Superman or Clark Kent? Who defines who? Why is he such an iconic superhero? Some say that it is no fun to follow Superman because he's invincible and super powerful and such. I say it gives him far more responsibility to choose right and stand for Truth, Justice, and all that stuff. He is the icon of what a superhero is and should be. His real choices are of morality, not, "Am I powerful enough to beat this challenge." He has to put what is best ahead of what he might feel or what might be easy. ****SPOILER...kind of (It happens so many times it not completely a spoiler)**** Superman/Clark has to prioritize saving Lois vs. saving the general population. We always know what his decision is. He also has some of the most iconic looking poses. Superman is my number one Superhero.


Up Next: Day 07 - A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Here are some pictures and commentary from my most recent trip: Banff National Forest in Canada!

Canadian Flag over Lake Moranie

Cascade Gardens in the town of Banff

My Family on a beautiful hike

Me on a rock, carrying the kid.

Lake Louise Ski Resort Lodge. We went up the lift to possibly see bears and wildlife...FAIL.

Peyto Lake. Seriously, its that color.

My two favorite girls (or guys for that matter) at Peyto Lake

Gabrielle insisting we walk on the insane hike down to the above mentioned Peyto Lake.

Britain and I in the 41 F glacier water of Peyto Lake. That is a faked smile on my face. By this time, I was in pain.

Yes, a bear, something like 20 feet away. Its an almost grown cub. Bystanders say the mother and other cub were deeper in the brush.

Gabrielle. She was excited for the bear but even more for the bug that flies by in a few seconds after this cute picture.

This is one "toe" of the super massive ice fields. Impressive. Most Impressive.

This is Bridal Veil Falls. It was super misty. Got soaked standing this far away!

This was by far the funnest hike of the trip. Really cool, isolated path that had two waterfalls.

Kiss under a waterfall. Check that one of the bucket list.

Up Next: Day 06 - Favorite super hero and why

Day 04 - A habit that you wish you didn't have

I wish I weren't so darn smart. Just Kidding! Wow, I assure you I am not that full of myself. But in all seriousness, I do have habit that I am working on. I typically read people fairly well and can put forth a good customer service type approach to people. I fail quickly at this when I get going about technology. Sometimes I get excited and just keep going on about it. It being my job, I do have some skills. But I get lost in it and sometimes forget that others don't care as much. More than anything, I go on, realize people don't care, and leave embarrassed that I went off like I did.

Sorry for those that I do this too. I actually did this to my wife tonight and feel dumb about it. In all actuality, I had written the previous paragraph four days ago but didn't get around to posting. Here's to not insisting you are expert at something just because you are good at it. There is probably (almost guaranteed I would say) someone that is better or

Next Up: Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you've been to